1, One, 2011

I saw this meme on another blog. (Thanks, Diary of a Stay At Home Mom!) You take the first sentence of the first post of each month. An interesting way to get a snapshot (albeit slightly out of context) review of the past year’s worth of 330 posts.

January 2011
4/5 - Outstanding special effects! (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice)

February 2011
Half my life - Still making me laugh even after 26 years!

March 2011
Step 1 - French manicure with green glitter tips!

April 2011
Not an April Fool – This is my 2,000th post
Thanks for coming along for the ride!

May 2011
One of my Nicotianas (Flowering Tobacco)

June 2011
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Learning to Fly"

July 2011
"Field Flowers" from Whole Foods Market

August 2011
Founders' Super Weekend Sale - August 5/7

September 2011
Some of my flowers in the front garden are literally uprooting themselves from this unrelenting heat (maybe tomorrow the high will only be 95!)

October 2011
Foster The People - "Pumped Up Kicks"

November 2011
The latest offering from Cooking Light

December 2011
The Goo Goo Dolls - "All That You Are"

They got married and lived happily ever after. The End.

And so the story goes. . .

A friend of mine linked this post on Facebook. My husband saw it and said, "Very well written and true!"

A Girl You Should Date

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee. Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she doesn't. She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read will understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours, but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

– Rosemarie Urquico –

No, Thank YOU - Weekend Designer Blog!

Your bloggy heart always skips a beat when you see a post entitled "Thank you & Farewell"! One of my favorite sewing blogs, Weekend Designer, just had its last post August 31. Be sure to stop by soon and enjoy before Wordpress removes it.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - Planet BioScan I tried this last night and honestly, had the best night's sleep in ages! It was very relaxing during the process, too. If anything, sign up for the monthly email newsletter. Very well-written and informative about increasing wellness in your body, mind and spirit! (They have a promotion right now when you subscribe to the newsletter, you get a free e-book "25 Ways to Reduce Your Stress")

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - Cookie Madness She bakes a different batch of cookies, brownies, even cakes almost everyday! Chocolate chip cookies even has its own category (with 88 recipes!). Lots of yummy recipes and links to even more cookie and goodie madness elsewhere on the Web.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.
This week - Weekend Designer She takes inspiration from RTW, then drafts and posts the pattern line drawings. If you've been looking to stretch your skills and dip your toe into sewing without a commercial pattern, her blog will help get you started.

The Winner! #39

Congratulations to The House of Kent's Sew Mama Sew 2009 May Giveway Day winner!

http://www.random.org/ picked #39 -- Treasures of Joy

And thanks to all who stopped by and left comments --- I look forward to checking out your blogs, too!

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - $5 Dinners Sometimes I just need a little inspiration and new ideas to stay on the budget and out of the rut. ("Oh no, not the Chop of Pork again!")

BLOG GIVEAWAY!

The House of Kent blog is participating in the Sew Mama Sew Blog Giveaway!
All you have to do is leave a comment with an email address on this post to be eligible to win a bit of Texas:

1 yard of "Oro Mesa" designed by Phillip de Leon for Alexander Henry, dated 1992, 100% cotton print. Prewashed and stored inside our non-smoking, pet-free home. It's 42" wide and the design repeats 11 1/2" in length and 22" in width. The cowboy figures are approximately 4" x 5".

I used this fabric when L was little to make a Go Texan vest (vest not included in the giveway!). You could also use this unisex print to make a little skirt, pants, bibs, baby diaper cover pants, an apron, home dec items, or cut out and use the cowboys as appliques for other projects...there's lots of fun sewing and creative potential!

Thanks for stopping by and hope ya'll come back and visit my blog in the future!

The contest will be open through May 31, so don't fret if you are reading this after May 27. You can still enter up until Midnight, May 31, your time zone. I will do the drawing on June 1 and send this fabric via Pony Express (kidding! who could not resist that?) by June 3.

Sorry, this giveaway is for US and APO/FPO Military addresses only.

Update: This is so much fun - I've set my Blackberry to chime when the comments post! And It's also cool to see potential plans for the fabric. I'm glad it will be going to live on in a better place than my storage container.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - Money Saving Mom One of the best blogs I've found with great tips on saving money. Her posts are inspiring and help keep that budgeting mojo going. Lots of head's up alerts to special deals, coupon promotions, freebies, special manufacturer's offers, etc. Her Mr. Linky type post comments add to the community with additional information keep you on top of even more late-breaking savings.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.
This week - True Up I found Kim's blog when I was searching for a photo for tomorrow's Money Monday post. Oh boy, if you love fabric, this is the blog you'll want to check out, showcasing fabrics for collecting, sewing, apparel, crafting, home dec. . . I also like the Daily Swatch featured fabric postings.

Money Monday AND Who are these people and what are the doing here? Two for Tuesday!

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. Each week on Sunday (or thereabouts) I will randomly showcase one from the list. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week -- IKEA Hacker

Even if you don't have an IKEA where you live, or their furniture, you can get the ideas to jumpstart your creative thinking, and changing the way you look at things. Not everything has to be brand new, especially today.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - Permission to Unwind. Another creative person's blog with a little bit of everything and a sense of humor.

Renee Award

Thank you, Yaya! I am truly touched.

...This Renee award was created by Bella and Ces in honor of their friend Renee.In Bella's own words "this is a brand new award and I have the pleasure and honor of spreading the seed, watching it grow. I hope it finds its way to those who are like Renee: the acorn, a small package becoming a tall and sturdy oak, giving more acorns, becoming tall and sturdy oaks, giving acorns..."

(Click here for the story about the Renee Award)

I in turn nominate

1. According to Lala

2. See Mommy Sew

3. Monica

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - Sidewalk Shoes A fun blog with a little bit of everything and great photography. Her food photos will have you wishing you could just reach through your computer screen!

Money Monday AND Who are these people and what are the doing here? Combo Deal!

The Thrifty Chicks This blog is fun and educational. All about thrifting - shopping and showcasing the thrift store finds to save money and keep your style. Lots of great links, too.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.
This week - The Naughty Secretary Club No, not that kind of naughty! Fellow Texas girl Jennifer Perkins is a fun, crafty lady. Her book, "The Naughty Secretary Club - The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry" was recently published (ISBN: 978-1-60061-116-2). I just checked out a copy from the library (Call No. 739.27) on Friday. Affordably priced, I will buy it next time on Amazon when I need a bump-up for free shipping. The book also clues you in to unlikely sources for crafting finds (Office Depot and teacher supply stores, who knew?) and has a great list of her favorite blogs to check out. Hop on over to her blog today.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - Sew, Mama, Sew!

What a fun website to get lost in! Tips, contests, reviews and inspiration. I especially like the theme/button months. April is Spring Sewing month and there are lots of project photos and links to patterns and tutorials. I like to check out the comments, too - so many creative people out there and I've discovered many cool blogs as a result.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.
This week - The Purl Bee Gorgeous photgraphy, cute projects!

Who are these people and what are they doing here?

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.

This week - Unclutterer ...Because hope springs eternal.